Reading Comprehension

　　A

　　I went to a movie theater with my roommate yesterday. His hobby is watching movies. He is enthusiastic about movies. I was very glad when he said that he would take me to a movie theater. As a student abroad, I always spend my time reading books in the library or studying in the classroom, so I looked forward to going to the movies.

　　The movie we saw was called “The Patriot”. It described the love between a father and his children during the time of the American War of Independence. It is a war story based on history, but the story was created by a writer for entertainment. The movie was enjoyable in that sometimes it made us laugh, and other times it made us cry. It was a successful movie.

　　The most amazing thing was the reaction of the audience. It was different. Though I could concentrate on watching a movie in Japan, I could not in America because of the reaction of the audience. They laughed loudly when an actor told a joke and they applauded at the plot when the main character killed his enemy. It was amazing to me that they expressed their emotions openly.

　　In other words, an American theater is a space for everyone to enjoy. If I did that in a public place in Japan, most of the audience would look down on me or complain about the noisiness, and the person beside me might say, “Could you please be silent?”

　　There seems to be a cultural difference between America and Japan. It is said that Americans always express their emotions and opinions and that we always conceal (隱藏) ours. I’m glad to observe such a difference because I can feel I am experiencing a real thing while visiting the United States.

　　1. The writer wrote the story in order to ____.

　　A. introduce an enjoyable war movie to us

　　B. show his studying experience in America

　　C. give us some advice on how to behave in a movie theater

　　D. tell us a cultural difference between Japan and America

　　2. What do you know about the author?

　　A. He is a Japanese and studies in America.

　　B. He doesn’t work hard at his lessons.

　　C. He is tired of the life as a student abroad.

　　D. He is fond of watching movies very much.

　　3. It can be known from the passage that Americans ____.

　　A. hide their emotions from strangers

　　B. express their emotions openly

　　C. are not so polite as the Japanese

　　D. look down upon the Japanese

　　4. When Japanese people are watching a movie, they usually ____.

　　A. laugh loudly

　　B. exchange their ideas

　　C. keep quiet

　　D. make some comments

　　B

　　Every spring, the streets of India will be filled with color as residents celebrate the festival of Holi. The annual event is celebrated on the last full moon day of the lunar month in the Hindu (印度教的) calendar. People walk to the streets early in the morning and sing “Holi Hai” while throwing strangers and friends colored powder.

　　The myth (神話故事) behind this Hindu festival varies depending on the region of India. The most popular one is about Hiranyakashipu, the king of evil and his son Prahlada. The king was unhappy that Prahlada was a supporter of Lord Vishnu, the protector of all mankind. When all efforts to discourage him failed, the king asked his sister Holika for help. Holika who had been born with the power to resist heat invited Prahlada to join her inside a burning fire. But thanks to the protection from Lord Vishnu, the young boy escaped, while Holika was burned to ashes. The locals marked the victory of good over evil with a celebration that was similar to the modern-day Holi and a fun tradition was born.

　　The night before Holi, many Hindus get together and light a giant bonfire (篝火). The highlight (最精彩的部分) of the festival is the Lathmar Holi, which is celebrated several days before the real Holi. The biggest Lathmar Holi celebration takes place in the village of Barsana. On this day, the village women stage a battle with the men from the neighboring village of Nandgaon to prevent them from placing a flag on Radhika’s temple. The women “hit” the men with the bamboo sticks, while the men attempt to fight back with the only weapon they have — colored powder.

　　Though the myth behind Holi may differ, the spirit of the festival is the same. It is the day (or month) when people set aside all worries and enjoy the day by throwing everyone they meet colored powder, water balloons and perhaps even entire buckets of water.

　　1. Which of the following is TRUE about the festival of Holi?

　　A. It is the biggest and the most important festival in India.

　　B. People celebrate it by throwing colored powder to others.

　　C. It is celebrated on the last full moon day of every month.

　　D. People light a giant bonfire and have a picnic together during the festival.

　　2. What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?

　　A. One origin of the festival of Holi.

　　B. The spirit of the festival of Holi.

　　C. The tradition of the festival of Holi.

　　D. How people celebrate the festival of Holi.

　　3. What can we know about the Lathmar Holi?

　　A. It is celebrated on the same day as the real Holi.

　　B. It takes place only in the birthplace of Radhika.

　　C. It is the most popular event during the festival of Holi.

　　D. People fight with each other with sticks during the day.

　　4. The spirit of the festival of Holi is to ____.

　　A. encourage women to challenge men

　　B. call on people to fight against the evil

　　C. persuade people to build a close relationship with neighbors

　　D. let people forget all their troubles and enjoy themselves

　　C

　　The West Potomac Park in Washington, DC, lies just west of the National Mall. It is home to some of Washington抯 most iconic (e標志性) sites. But, the park’s most famous attraction? Cherry blossoms.

　　Thousands of cherry trees bloom around the waters of the Tidal Basin, which reflect the trees’ images. The basin was created in the late 1800s to prevent the Potomac River from flooding. The original cherry trees were a gift from Japan. On March 26, 1912, more than 3,000 cherry trees arrived in Washington. Most were planted around the Tidal Basin. But cherry trees were also planted near the Washington Monument and the White House.

　　Mike Litterst is a spokesperson for the U.S. National Park Service, which maintains (維護) the West Potomac Park, and helps protect the cherry trees. “It’s this wonderful gift that’s over 100 years old now and, if you will, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. You can enjoy its beauty every year.”

　　The cherry blossoms also serve as a symbol of the beginning of springtime. They burst with colors of soft pink and white. The blossoming of the cherry blossoms every spring is sort of the great springtime celebration, not only in the District of Columbia but throughout the United States. Every year, Washington celebrates the arrival of spring with a two-week Cherry Blossom Festival. More than 1.5 million people from around the world visit the nation’s capital during the festival. They all hope to see the cherry trees at their “peak bloom.”

　　Park officials define “peak bloom” as the period when 70 percent of Washington’s most common cherry trees—Yoshino trees are blooming. Peak bloom lasts several days each year. Experts begin making peak bloom predictions in February. Visitors make their travel plans to Washington based on these predictions. Some years, the early guesses are correct. Last year, officials correctly predicted the peak bloom six weeks in advance. But this year, unpredictable weather in March in Washington has made guessing it difficult. “Peak bloom” dates have changed many times.

　　The cherry blossoms have also become a worldwide symbol of Washington itself. Bo Wen moved to Washington from China seven years ago. He comes to the Tidal Basin every year during the Cherry Blossom Festival. “It’s just famous. Everywhere you can see like Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival, on like Twitter and Instagram.”

　　1. What can be known about the West Potomac Park?

　　A. It is just next to the Tidal Basin.

　　B. There are some iconic sites around it.

　　C. It includes a man-made body of water.

　　D. All the cherry trees from Japan were there.

　　2. By saying “it’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Litterst means ____.

　　A. the old cherry trees are still in blossom

　　B. visitors can pick the flowers if they like

　　C. Japan is still giving them cherry trees

　　D. visitors will have the flowers as a gift

　　3. What can we learn about Cherry Blossom Festival?

　　A. It usually lasts one week.

　　B. Its time is not the same every year.

　　C. It is held when cherry trees start to bloom.

　　D. Its celebration is held all over the country.

　　4. Bo Wen tends to indicate that Cherry Blossom Festival ____.

　　A. can be enjoyed just online

　　B. is liked by the Chinese very much

　　C. is one of the most important ones

　　D. is widely known all over the world

　　Reading Comprehension

　　A

　　I went to a movie theater with my roommate yesterday. His hobby is watching movies. He is enthusiastic about movies. I was very glad when he said that he would take me to a movie theater. As a student abroad, I always spend my time reading books in the library or studying in the classroom, so I looked forward to going to the movies.

　　The movie we saw was called “The Patriot”. It described the love between a father and his children during the time of the American War of Independence. It is a war story based on history, but the story was created by a writer for entertainment. The movie was enjoyable in that sometimes it made us laugh, and other times it made us cry. It was a successful movie.

　　The most amazing thing was the reaction of the audience. It was different. Though I could concentrate on watching a movie in Japan, I could not in America because of the reaction of the audience. They laughed loudly when an actor told a joke and they applauded at the plot when the main character killed his enemy. It was amazing to me that they expressed their emotions openly.

　　In other words, an American theater is a space for everyone to enjoy. If I did that in a public place in Japan, most of the audience would look down on me or complain about the noisiness, and the person beside me might say, “Could you please be silent?”

　　There seems to be a cultural difference between America and Japan. It is said that Americans always express their emotions and opinions and that we always conceal (隱藏) ours. I’m glad to observe such a difference because I can feel I am experiencing a real thing while visiting the United States.

　　1. The writer wrote the story in order to ____.

　　A. introduce an enjoyable war movie to us

　　B. show his studying experience in America

　　C. give us some advice on how to behave in a movie theater

　　D. tell us a cultural difference between Japan and America

　　2. What do you know about the author?

　　A. He is a Japanese and studies in America.

　　B. He doesn’t work hard at his lessons.

　　C. He is tired of the life as a student abroad.

　　D. He is fond of watching movies very much.

　　3. It can be known from the passage that Americans ____.

　　A. hide their emotions from strangers

　　B. express their emotions openly

　　C. are not so polite as the Japanese

　　D. look down upon the Japanese

　　4. When Japanese people are watching a movie, they usually ____.

　　A. laugh loudly

　　B. exchange their ideas

　　C. keep quiet

　　D. make some comments

　　B

　　Every spring, the streets of India will be filled with color as residents celebrate the festival of Holi. The annual event is celebrated on the last full moon day of the lunar month in the Hindu (印度教的) calendar. People walk to the streets early in the morning and sing “Holi Hai” while throwing strangers and friends colored powder.

　　The myth (神話故事) behind this Hindu festival varies depending on the region of India. The most popular one is about Hiranyakashipu, the king of evil and his son Prahlada. The king was unhappy that Prahlada was a supporter of Lord Vishnu, the protector of all mankind. When all efforts to discourage him failed, the king asked his sister Holika for help. Holika who had been born with the power to resist heat invited Prahlada to join her inside a burning fire. But thanks to the protection from Lord Vishnu, the young boy escaped, while Holika was burned to ashes. The locals marked the victory of good over evil with a celebration that was similar to the modern-day Holi and a fun tradition was born.

　　The night before Holi, many Hindus get together and light a giant bonfire (篝火). The highlight (最精彩的部分) of the festival is the Lathmar Holi, which is celebrated several days before the real Holi. The biggest Lathmar Holi celebration takes place in the village of Barsana. On this day, the village women stage a battle with the men from the neighboring village of Nandgaon to prevent them from placing a flag on Radhika’s temple. The women “hit” the men with the bamboo sticks, while the men attempt to fight back with the only weapon they have — colored powder.

　　Though the myth behind Holi may differ, the spirit of the festival is the same. It is the day (or month) when people set aside all worries and enjoy the day by throwing everyone they meet colored powder, water balloons and perhaps even entire buckets of water.

　　1. Which of the following is TRUE about the festival of Holi?

　　A. It is the biggest and the most important festival in India.

　　B. People celebrate it by throwing colored powder to others.

　　C. It is celebrated on the last full moon day of every month.

　　D. People light a giant bonfire and have a picnic together during the festival.

　　2. What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?

　　A. One origin of the festival of Holi.

　　B. The spirit of the festival of Holi.

　　C. The tradition of the festival of Holi.

　　D. How people celebrate the festival of Holi.

　　3. What can we know about the Lathmar Holi?

　　A. It is celebrated on the same day as the real Holi.

　　B. It takes place only in the birthplace of Radhika.

　　C. It is the most popular event during the festival of Holi.

　　D. People fight with each other with sticks during the day.

　　4. The spirit of the festival of Holi is to ____.

　　A. encourage women to challenge men

　　B. call on people to fight against the evil

　　C. persuade people to build a close relationship with neighbors

　　D. let people forget all their troubles and enjoy themselves

　　C

　　The West Potomac Park in Washington, DC, lies just west of the National Mall. It is home to some of Washington抯 most iconic (e標志性) sites. But, the park’s most famous attraction? Cherry blossoms.

　　Thousands of cherry trees bloom around the waters of the Tidal Basin, which reflect the trees’ images. The basin was created in the late 1800s to prevent the Potomac River from flooding. The original cherry trees were a gift from Japan. On March 26, 1912, more than 3,000 cherry trees arrived in Washington. Most were planted around the Tidal Basin. But cherry trees were also planted near the Washington Monument and the White House.

　　Mike Litterst is a spokesperson for the U.S. National Park Service, which maintains (維護) the West Potomac Park, and helps protect the cherry trees. “It’s this wonderful gift that’s over 100 years old now and, if you will, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. You can enjoy its beauty every year.”

　　The cherry blossoms also serve as a symbol of the beginning of springtime. They burst with colors of soft pink and white. The blossoming of the cherry blossoms every spring is sort of the great springtime celebration, not only in the District of Columbia but throughout the United States. Every year, Washington celebrates the arrival of spring with a two-week Cherry Blossom Festival. More than 1.5 million people from around the world visit the nation’s capital during the festival. They all hope to see the cherry trees at their “peak bloom.”

　　Park officials define “peak bloom” as the period when 70 percent of Washington’s most common cherry trees—Yoshino trees are blooming. Peak bloom lasts several days each year. Experts begin making peak bloom predictions in February. Visitors make their travel plans to Washington based on these predictions. Some years, the early guesses are correct. Last year, officials correctly predicted the peak bloom six weeks in advance. But this year, unpredictable weather in March in Washington has made guessing it difficult. “Peak bloom” dates have changed many times.

　　The cherry blossoms have also become a worldwide symbol of Washington itself. Bo Wen moved to Washington from China seven years ago. He comes to the Tidal Basin every year during the Cherry Blossom Festival. “It’s just famous. Everywhere you can see like Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival, on like Twitter and Instagram.”

　　1. What can be known about the West Potomac Park?

　　A. It is just next to the Tidal Basin.

　　B. There are some iconic sites around it.

　　C. It includes a man-made body of water.

　　D. All the cherry trees from Japan were there.

　　2. By saying “it’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Litterst means ____.

　　A. the old cherry trees are still in blossom

　　B. visitors can pick the flowers if they like

　　C. Japan is still giving them cherry trees

　　D. visitors will have the flowers as a gift

　　3. What can we learn about Cherry Blossom Festival?

　　A. It usually lasts one week.

　　B. Its time is not the same every year.

　　C. It is held when cherry trees start to bloom.

　　D. Its celebration is held all over the country.

　　4. Bo Wen tends to indicate that Cherry Blossom Festival ____.

　　A. can be enjoyed just online

　　B. is liked by the Chinese very much

　　C. is one of the most important ones

　　D. is widely known all over the world